Even as the Nazis slaughtered millions of Jews, they kept one model ghetto in Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia, a place populated by artists, musicians, actors and professors, who were shown to the world as "proof" of the Reich's good treatment of the Jews. Musical Chairs, a new musical by Joel Hirschhorn and Jennifer Carter, takes place in that ghetto, where a young pianist, part of the camp's propaganda orchestra, inspires the prisoners with her playing.

Even as the Nazis slaughtered millions of Jews, they kept one model ghetto in Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia, a place populated by artists, musicians, actors and professors, who were shown to the world as "proof" of the Reich's good treatment of the Jews. Musical Chairs, a new musical by Joel Hirschhorn and Jennifer Carter, takes place in that ghetto, where a young pianist, part of the camp's propaganda orchestra, inspires the prisoners with her playing.

Musical Chairs opens Aug. 24 at the El Portal Center for the Arts in North Hollywood. Performances began Aug. 16.

Jules Aaron directs with Kay Cole providing the choreography. Aaron's credits include I Oughta Be in Pictures for La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts, his fifth production at that theatre, and pieces for Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Laguna Playhouse and the Public Theatre in New York.